Element for fixing plates

ABSTRACT

In a element for fixing or a fastener ( 2 ) for plates, particularly for sheets of glass ( 1 ), which comprises an elongate pivot ( 11 ) to be fixed to a framework ( 10 ) and which has a free end and a hollow housing ( 7 ) housing this free end in a moveable way, in which tilting movements of the longitudinal axis of the pivot ( 11 ) in the hollow housing ( 7 ) are possible, the free end of the pivot ( 11 ) is, according to the invention, introduced with limitable axial mobility into a bore ( 9 ) of an articulation element ( 8 ) pivotably supporting the pivot in the hollow housing ( 7 ).  
     Embodiments of the articulation element in the form of a ball and of an elastic sleeve element are described.

[0001] The invention relates to a element for fixing plates (or afastener), particularly for sheets of glass, which comprises an elongatepivot to be fixed to a framework and which has a free end and a hollowhousing housing this free end in a moveable way, in which fastener anarticulation element which pivotably supports the pivot in the hollowhousing allows tilting movements of the longitudinal axis of the pivotin the hollow housing.

[0002] To attach rigid plates, for example plates of glass, to fixedframeworks, such as the facades of buildings for example, it isgenerally known practice for these plates to be hung from individualpoints using fasteners (also known as “point attachments”), which offervarious degrees of freedom of movement in rotation and in translation.The degrees of freedom in rotation are mainly achieved by means of balljoints, while the degrees of freedom in translation are provided byfloating bearings. Thus, the plates may bend elastically slightly, onthe one hand, under the effect of the loads applied, for example, theforce of the wind, and, on the other hand, in particular, differentthermal expansions of the plates and of the framework can be compensatedfor practically without load.

[0003] DE-A1-197 49 634 describes a fastener in which the free end of apivot housed moveably in a hollow housing consists directly of a balland thus allows tipping movements of the longitudinal axis of the pivot.The hollow housing itself is essentially in the form of a hollowcylinder and therefore also allows the pivot to move in the axialdirection, compressing springs arranged on each side of the sphereportion in the axial direction limiting this axial mobility. The part ofa plate fixed to a framework by means of this fastener can not onlyexperience tilting or curving movements but also deflections normal tothe surface of the plate. A definite disadvantage with this constructionis that the spherical surface of the end of the pivot slides directly onthe walls of the hollow accommodating housing.

[0004] DE-A1-198 00 614 describes another fastener, which comprises ahollow spherical element arranged pivotably in a hollow accommodatinghousing. At the middle of this housing is the free end of a pivotmounted with radial play. This configuration makes it possible tocompensate for dimensional variations between the position of the pivotin the plate that is to be fastened and the corresponding accommodatingpart in the framework. A possibility of axial translation of this freeend in the mounted situation is not, however, envisaged here, becausethe free end of the pivot is screwed securely to the sphericalarticulation (ball joint) after radial positioning.

[0005] DE-A1-197 13 678 also discloses a fastener with a pivot and ahollow housing to be installed in bores in sheets of glass. Here too,there is compensation for tolerances in the direction orthogonal to thelongitudinal axis of the pivot. Two elastomeric rings surrounding thepivot inside the hollow housing limit the mobility of the pivot in theaxial direction. Admittedly, mobility of the pivot purely in translationis shown, but rendered possible only by compressing an elastomeric ringaround its entire perimeter.

[0006] EP-B1-0 655 543 discloses a fastener that can be applied in thecase of plates, particularly plates of glass, in which a combination ofa hollow bucket-shaped housing with a head like that of a piston at thefree end of a pivot replaces a ball joint articulation. The hollowhousing is in a fitting fixed to the associated plate, while the pivotis attached fixedly—or with the aforementioned degrees of freedom intranslation—to the framework. The head like that of a piston is producedwith an approximately spherical lateral surface, is surrounded by thehollow housing with a small amount of radial play. In the axialdirection of the pivot, it is flanked on both sides by intermediateelastic layers which, through compression, allow, on the one hand, verysmall axial movements but, above all, allow movements in pivotingbetween the hollow housing and the head or pivot respectively. Thispossibility of pivoting in space about the center of the head affordsthe degrees of freedom in rotation needed for the fastened plates tocurve in any way.

[0007] EP-A1-0 863 287 discloses an alternative form of theaforementioned fastener, in which the head like that of a piston isprovided, on its largest perimeter, with a plastic ring which issupposed to minimize the radial play in the hollow housing and thefriction and wear between the lateral surface of the head and theinterior surface of the hollow housing. For the remainder, thisconstruction is practically identical to the earlier embodiment.

[0008] EP-A1-0 784 129 also describes a fastener for plates,particularly for plates of glass, which is supposed to allow angles tobe established between the plate that is to be held and the framework.To this end, the shank of the fastener emerging from the plate is splitinto two in the lengthwise direction, while a threaded tenon runslongitudinally through the two parts. The two parts of the shank haveend faces of hollow spherical shape. These each collaborate with awasher which, on one side, has a spherical shape with a radius suited tothe hollow spherical end faces and the other side of which is flat. Theparts of the shank with the corresponding washers are placed one on eachside of a support element of the framework, which element is providedwith a bore for the passage of the threaded tenon. By means of thelatter, the parts of the shank with the washers—through which thethreaded tenon passes with sufficient radial play—are joined together byscrewing. Thus, the flat sides of the washers are clamped against thetwo flat surfaces of the support element arranged so that they areopposite. In the bore thereof, the threaded tenon also has a relativelylarge amount of radial play, so as to be able to be adjusted radiallytherein during mounting. Depending on the force of the pre-tightening,it is also possible at this point to take up the movements ofcompensation by translation. At the same time, the correspondingspherical shell portions make it possible, during mounting, to angularlyadjust the axis of the fastener with respect to the support element. Thefasteners provided with this possibility of adjustment are used mainlyfor hanging rigid plane plates (of glass) from walls which exhibitcurvatures or breaks.

[0009] The object of the invention is to improve a fastener of this kindstill further.

[0010] According to the invention, this objective is achieved with thecharacteristics of the independent claims 1, 2 and 11. Thecharacteristics of the claims dependent on the respective independentclaims disclose advantageous developments of these subjects. Secondaryclaims deal with panes provided with such fasteners and their use in theglazing of buildings.

[0011] The axial mobility of the free end of the pivot, which can belimited, is produced in a first alternative form according to theinvention by the fact that a hole (bore) in a pivotably mountedspherical element is provided by way of hollow accommodating housing, inwhich hole the pivot can slide axially.

[0012] In a second alternative form according to the invention, anelement in the form of a sleeve with at least one elastically deformablecomponent and an internal sleeve in the aperture of which the free endof the pivot can be moved axially and can be guided in pivoting byvirtue of the elastic deformation of said component is provided.

[0013] In yet another alternative form of the invention, an element inthe form of a sleeve with at least one elastically deformable componentto which the free end of the pivot is securely attached so that it canbe guided in pivoting by virtue of the elastic deformation of saidcomponent is provided.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of this alternative form, the elasticelement is able to shear enough to allow the pivot limited axialmobility inside the fastener.

[0015] As a preference, in the alternative forms, the radial play forthe radial guidance of the pivot is adjusted to the smallest possiblevalue. It will be noted that “play as small as possible” or “minimalplay” is used here in place of the common expression “without play”because, strictly speaking, parts assembled without play are not able tomove one with respect to the other. In any event, it is necessary toavoid phenomena of wear, knocking noises and the like caused byexcessive play, and seizure and wear phenomena caused by insufficientplay.

[0016] The bore in the articulation element, housing the end of thepivot, may be produced in the form of a blind hole or of a through-hole.The axial mobility between the pivot and the hollow housing may belimited, for example by elastic interlayers or sprung elements.

[0017] The head like that of a piston (generally in the form of athickening or increased thickness) provided in the state of the art atthe end of the pivot could here be formed directly by the articulationelement surrounding the end of the pivot, it being possible for axialmobility to be provided between this head and the pivot itself. Inanother preferred embodiment, the pivot may, as before, be provided witha fixed head or terminal additional thickness which may be slideablysupported, in the manner of a piston, in the bore of the articulationelement, it not being possible for the latter to become jammed in itsguide with a minimum amount of radial play. If the lateral surface ofthis head is produced so that it is cylindrical, the radial forces aredistributed over a larger area by comparison with the state of the artwhich have spherical heads. This results in a lower surface pressure andin a reduction in wear.

[0018] As a preference, the articulation element is formed of a ball, orof a portion of a ball, pierced or provided with a blind hole. By way ofarticulation element it is, however, also possible to use a sleeve or abushing that pivots and slides axially inside the hollow housing,embedded in elastically deformable bodies, for example blocks of rubberor of plastic.

[0019] The articulation element may be made easier to fit if the part ofthe fitting that forms the hollow housing is split. It is, however, justas possible for a spherical element to be wedged pivotably butnonslideably in the hollow housing in a way known per se using a snapring or the like.

[0020] Starting out from a neutral or mean position, the pivot has to beable to experience angular variations reaching, in particular, 10° withrespect to the hollow housing. What is of essential importance then forthe one-use model, neglecting the sizing considerations associated withthe loading, is the space available in the radial direction on the sheetof glass and on the framework and the necessary thickness of the pivotand the necessary angles of pivoting in the fasteners.

[0021] Such an element, which allows the plate secured using it todeflect or curve elastically with respect to surface loadings now alsoin a direction normal to the plane of the plate, can be usedparticularly advantageously as a support point at the center or on thesurface of large plates. By using the fasteners in common use at thepresent time, which allow no or only a small deflection travel in thenormal direction, the plates are highly stressed in bending at suchcentral or face-mounted support points, because flexing arises which isnot in the same direction on all sides of the respective support point.This loading scenario is particularly lowered by a fastener producedaccording to the invention. Resistive or internal return forces neededto counter such movements, which may lie in the region less than orequal to ±5 mm, can be guaranteed in a preferred embodiment, by sprungelements, the preload of which can be set or adjusted. In addition, itis possible to predetermine, by means of such sprung elements, a definedneutral position (zero or rest position) of the free end of the pivotwithin the hollow housing. In the case of an elastic sleeve element orof equivalent elastic articulation elements, the elastic resistances todeformation may also be used to set said neutral position.

[0022] Naturally, the fasteners proposed here are also able to be useduniversally, in addition to such specific application scenarios, for allthe other fastening points for which at least one support able to movein rotation is desired. They are thus suitable for use in a modularconstruction system based on unit elements.

[0023] Of course, it would theoretically be possible, with suchfasteners, also to fasten multilayer laminated panes or glazing elementswith spacing pieces (insulating glazing) right down to fire protectionglazing and plates made of other materials such as ceramic, stone,plastic, metal etc. to frameworks with the desired degrees of freedom.It is also possible to conceive of manufacturing the fastener itself outof high-strength non-metallic materials or composites.

[0024] Because the mobilities of the fastener are now separated intodegrees of freedom in rotation and in axial translation, the wear onsuch a device is reduced to the inevitable minimum level. This also, bycomparison with the relevant state of the art, results in many morepossibilities for optimizing the flexibility of the pivot in the axialdirection.

[0025] Other details and advantages of the subject of the invention areillustrated by the drawing of two exemplary embodiments and by theirdetailed description which follows.

[0026] In these drawings, which constitutes schematic depictions insection,

[0027]FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a fastener (or pointattachment) for plates with a pivot pivoting and slightly movable in theaxial direction and an articulation element in the form of a perforatedball; and

[0028]FIG. 2 illustrates a second form of embodiment in which thearticulation element is in the form of a metal-elastomer sleeve.

[0029] It needs to be emphasized from the outset that, in that whichfollows, the terms “outer” and, respectively, “on the outside” each timedenote the side of the fastener or, respectively, of the surroundingconstruction elements, which is generally free situated on the oppositeside to the framework, and that the terms “inner” and “on the inside”each time denote their side that faces towards the framework. Theframework may, for example, be arranged at a facade or an interior wallof a building, at a bridge or the like.

[0030] According to FIG. 1, a fastener 2 is fixed to a monolithic pane 1in a through-bore 3 of the pane 1. It comprises an external fitting part4, which, in the mounted position, lies flush with the face facingtowards the outside of the pane 1, and an internal fitting part 5 whichis assembled with the external fitting part 4 in a separable ornon-separable way. Here is indicated the screw-fastening of these twoparts along a parting line. The external fitting part 4 bears via acountersunk conical head and a corresponding bearing ring made ofplastic against the pane 1 in the conical outer end region of the bore3. Starting from the other side of the pane 1 there is screwed onto theinternal fitting part 5, or onto its body provided with an externalscrew thread, a nut in the form of a washer 6, which bears against theinside of the pane 1—also with the insertion of a plastic washer. Theintermediate layers in the known way prevent direct contact between thematerial of the fastener, which is generally a metal, and the glass.

[0031] The method by which the fastener 2 is fastened to the plate or tothe pane 1 is not, however, important here. The arrangement shown ismerely one nonlimiting example. Other alternative forms of embodimentare described abundantly in the prior art. It will be mentioned inparticular that it is not absolutely essential to have a bore passingthrough the pane or through other plates that are to be fastened.

[0032] The two fitting parts 4 and 5 together form a hollow housing 7separable along the aforementioned parting line. An articulation element8 in the form of a pierced (perforated) ball with a through-bore 9 isintroduced into this housing in such a way that it can pivot freely withas little radial play as possible. In this embodiment, the center ofpivoting lies, in a way known per se, inside the thickness of the pane 1that is fastened with the fastener 2. Other arrangements of the centerof pivoting outside the pane 1 or even flush with its interior surfacemay, however, also be provided if need be; to do that, the configurationof the assembly of the fitting parts and possibly the way in which theyare secured to the pane needs simply to be altered.

[0033] Naturally there are other means of incorporating an articulationelement into a hollow housing provided for that purpose and for securingit axially there into; these need not be excluded here. The only thingof importance is the freedom of pivoting in the hollow housing of thepivot used in the articulation element.

[0034] To assemble the fastener 2 in addition to the pane 1 with aframework 10 simply indicated here in chain line with a support portion,there is a pivot 11 which extends through a hole in the support portionas far as the hollow housing 7, and respectively into the bore 9 of thearticulation element 8. At its free end situated in this bore, the pivot11 carries a thickening (head) in the form of a piston 12. This head ishoused in the bore 9 so that it can slide without jamming with thesmallest possible amount of radial clearance (sliding fit). Whenchoosing the fit, it is necessary naturally to take account of thepossible thermal expansions and during the bearing of the articulationelement.

[0035] To determine a defined neutral or mean position and to limit theaxial mobility of the additional thickness 12 inside the bore 9,pressure springs are provided on both sides of the head 12. The outerspring 13 bears in the radial direction on, on the one hand, the outerfront face of the head 12 and, on the other hand, in the externalfitting part 4 on the inner end of the hollow housing 7. It may bepossible to provide appropriate means for centering the outer spring 13with respect to the central axis of the fastener, although these are notdepicted here.

[0036] The inner spring 14 surrounds the shank of the pivot 11 with alarge amount of radial play. It bears axially on the one hand againstthe inner front face of the head 12 and, on the other hand, against anannular shoulder 15 provided in the inner fitting part. The latter may,for example, be produced, as depicted here, dismantably in the form of asnap ring inserted in a groove in part of the inner fitting 5, if such asolution is capable in complete safety of reacting all the forcesexerted in the axial direction. Of course, other solutions relating toconstructional details are also possible here, without altering theprinciple of the head in the articulation element and the fixing of itsaxially moveable position. Thus, instead of the helical pressure springsdepicted here, it is also possible to use other appropriate elasticelements, for example elements made of flexible rubber or plasticsmaterials, to define the neutral position of the additional thickness inthe bore.

[0037] The elasticities, or spring stiffnesses, available may also beobtained by using springs of different hardness. It is also possible toenvisage modifying the preload of the press springs as needed after theyhave been mounted, using adjusting means, for example adjusting screwsin the fastener itself. Such a solution would, however, be more costlythan the outline depiction shown here. In an extreme case, the hardnessof the springs may, if necessary, be set to be so high that only verysmall movements of axial deflection are possible and a practically fixedaxial support is then produced. The fundamental axial mobility of theelement is no longer, however, assured in such a case.

[0038] If, in an alternative which has not been depicted, the bore madein the articulation element has to be a blind hole, then the outerspring 13 may bear against the bottom of this hole. It is also possibleto provide in a through-bore a bearing shoulder against which the outerspring 13 can also bear inside the articulation element.

[0039] The inner spring may also, in an alternative form of thedepiction of FIG. 1, bear inside the articulation element, if enoughmounting space is present and if a bearing shoulder or the like isprovided. In such a design, the springs 13 and/or 14 should not bedeformed elastically by movements of pure pivoting of the fastener.

[0040] The fastener 2 described here may be completely pre-fitted ontothe pane 1. For example, the articulation element 8 and the outer spring13 are first of all introduced into the outer fitting part 4. Next, thepivot 11 with its increased-thickness head 12 is inserted into the bore9 of the articulation element 8. The inner spring 14 is next placed onthe head 12. Finally, the internal fitting part 5 with the annularshoulder 15, therefore in this instance the snap ring 16, is fitted andassembled on the outer fitting part, in this instance by screwing. Thus,on the one hand, the articulation element is immobilized in the hollowhousing and preferably an appropriate combination of materials, asliding coating and/or lubrication for life ensure long-term mobility offree pivoting of the articulation element. On the other hand, the twosprings are preloaded in the desired way and the pivot 11, now housedpivotably and with axial sliding, protrudes outward. Finally, thisassembly is installed from the outside into the bore 3 of the pane 1 andimmobilized at the same time as the interlayers, using the nut 6.

[0041] The outside diameter of the head and the inside diameters of thebores of the articulation element and of the internal fitting part canbe matched in such a way that the pivot with its end additionalthickness can be introduced into the bore of the articulation element orwithdrawn therefrom before the snap ring is fitted or, respectively,after it has been removed.

[0042] Before the fastener 2 is premounted, the pivot 11 is immobilizedin its axial direction with respect to the framework 10 in the usualway, preferably dismantlably using appropriate screws. If need be, it isalso necessary to provide it with degrees of freedom in translationradially with respect to the axis of the pivot and parallel to the planeof the support portion. The pivot 11 thus passes on to the framework 10all the loads such as the weight and the forces due to the wind andexpansions of thermal origin, etc., which are transmitted by the pane 1to the fastener 2. Other details of this framework are not depictedhere. In this respect, and for more precise details regarding theconnection and the degrees of freedom in translation of the fastener forfixing to the framework, reference will be made once again to thesubstantial prior art in this field.

[0043] The fitting parts 4 and 5 of the fastener 2 assembled with pane 1may in all cases pivot freely with respect to the pivot 11 by virtue ofthe articulation element 8, that is to say that they are supported withdegrees of freedom in rotation. Usually, angles of pivoting of about 5°in all directions are considered. Thus, curvatures of the pane 1 canhere be reacted and compensated for without substantial resistive force.Furthermore, the axial mobility of the head 12 in the bore 9 and the twosprings 13 and 14 allow variations in the distance between the pane 1and the framework, which variations are finally limited in thisembodiment by the respective immobilizing length of the compressionsprings when fully compressed. The pivot and, respectively, its endadditional thickness may, in this construction, be pushed in axially inboth directions to greater or lesser depths within the fastener 2starting from a neutral position, against the action of elastic returnforces. In addition, the springs 13 and 14 may also exert return momentsagainst the oscillations of the articulation element 8 in the hollowhousing.

[0044] The main load on the fastener is the weight of the pane 1. In thenormal mounted position, it acts perpendicularly to the longitudinalaxis of the pivot. Between the cylindrical lateral surface of the head12 and the wall of the bore 9 in the spherical element, the small amountof radial play guarantees surface contact such that the main load istransferred to the pivot by a relatively large area.

[0045] In the alternative form of the fastener which form is depicted inFIG. 2, a sleeve element 16 is used by way of articulation element 8 inplace of the ball joint element, and this sleeve element is clampedbetween the two fitting parts of the fastener. It is made up of aradially outer bushing 17, of a radially inner bushing 18 arrangedconcentrically with the latter one and of an elastically deformablearticulation ring 19 which is arranged in the annular slot between thetwo bushings. The connection between the articulation ring and thebushings, which may be made of metal or of non-metallic materials, hashigh strength, for example on account of bonding or vulcanization.

[0046] Elements of this nature are known per se, for example, as dampersin the field of motor vehicle chassis construction. The articulationring may be made of rubber or of appropriate elastomers, it beingpossible for its elastic stiffness to be adjusted within very broadlimits to suit the requirement through the choice of the materials andthe geometric configuration. In the radial direction, these elementsare, as a general rule, very stiff, although the inner bushing is justas able to pivot with respect to the central axis as it is to move inthe axial direction with respect to the outer bushing through elasticdeformation of the articulation ring.

[0047] The remainder of the structure of the fastener correspondsessentially to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, which means thatthere is no need to explain the individual parts again here. However,the construction is markedly more simple and the manufacture is thusmore economical because of the disappearance of the ball joint element.Thus, the outer bushing 18 may simply be clamped axially and radiallywithout play in the hollow housing between the two fitting parts 4 and 5to be screwed together. The annular shoulder 15 which acts as a supportfor the inner spring 14 is here incorporated directly into the internalfitting part 5. It also immobilizes the sleeve element in the axialdirection via its outer bushing 18. Advantageously, the inside diameterof the shoulder 15 of the fitting part 5 is smaller than the outsidediameter of the head 12 of the piston, affording mechanical safety sothat the piston cannot leave the space 7. The inner bushing 19 isslightly shorter in the axial direction than the outer bushing 18. Itsinner lateral surface forms the bore of the articulation element, inwhich the end additional thickness 12 of the pivot 11 is housed with aslittle radial play as possible, although it can still slide axially.Here again, it is appropriate once more to take appropriate steps toensure the smoothness of the sliding movement.

[0048] In an alternative form, the articulation ring could be fixeddirectly to the outer fitting part 4, it then being possible for theouter bushing 17 to be omitted.

[0049] In another simplified alternative form, it would be conceivable,using the sleeve-shaped elastic articulation element, to fix in theaxial direction the pivot with or without additional thickness to theinner bushing or to the articulation ring if the desired or requiredaxial mobility can be obtained only by sufficient transverse movementsof the articulation ring. In this alternative form, there is no need forspecial elastic elements for defining the neutral position of the pivot.

1. A fastener (2) for plates, particularly for sheets of glass (1),which comprises an elongate pivot (11) to be fixed to a framework (10)and which has a free end and a hollow housing (7) housing this free endin a moveable way, in which fastener an articulation element (8) whichpivotably supports the pivot in the hollow housing (7) allows tiltingmovements of the longitudinal axis of the pivot (11) in the hollowhousing (7), characterized in that the articulation element (8) consistsof a spherical element pivotably mounted and provided with a bore (9) byway of hollow housing, in which bore the free end of the pivot (11) issupported with axial sliding with minimal radial play.
 2. A fastener (2)for plates, particularly for sheets of glass (1), which comprises anelongate pivot (11) to be fixed to a framework (10) and which has a freeend and a hollow housing (7) housing this free end in a moveable way, inwhich fastener an articulation element (8) which pivotably supports thepivot in the hollow housing (7) allows tilting movements of thelongitudinal axis of the pivot (11) in the hollow housing (7),characterized in that the articulation element (8) consists of a sleeveelement (16) with at least one elastically deformable component (19) andan internal sleeve, in which the free end of the pivot (11) can be movedaxially with minimal radial clearance and can be guided in pivoting withelastic deformation of the elastically deformable component (19).
 3. Thefastener as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that provided atthe free end of the pivot (11) is a head (12) guided in the bore (8) ofthe articulation element (8).
 4. The fastener as claimed in claim 3,characterized in that the head (12) has a cylindrical lateral surface.5. The fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims,characterized in that the hollow housing (7) for the articulationelement (8) is formed of two parts of a fitting (4, 5) which areassembled along a parting line.
 6. The fastener as claimed in any one ofthe preceding claims, characterized in that provided inside the bore (9)of the elastic element (8) are elastic elements (13, 14; 19) foradjusting the free end of the pivot (11) into a neutral position in theaxial direction thereof.
 7. The fastener as claimed in claim 6,characterized in that the elastic elements have the form of compressionsprings (13, 14).
 8. The fastener as claimed in claims 6 or 7,characterized in that the elastic elements (13, 14) are arranged one oneach side of an end head (12) of the pivot (11) and each bear againstthe head (12) at one side.
 9. The fastener as claimed in claim 8,characterized in that the other side of the elastic elements (13, 14)bears, in the case of one of them, against the closed end of the hollowhousing (7) and, in the case of the other, against an annular shoulder(15) surrounding the pivot (11).
 10. The fastener as claimed in claim 8,characterized in that yet another side of the elastic elements (13, 14)bears against the inside of the bore (9).
 11. A fastener (2) for plates,particularly for sheets of glass (1), which comprises an elongate pivot(11) to be fixed to a framework (10) and which has a free end and ahollow housing (7) housing this free end in a moveable way, in whichfastener an articulation element (8) which pivotably supports the pivotin the hollow housing (7) allows tilting movements of the longitudinalaxis of the pivot (11) in the hollow housing (7), characterized in thatthe articulation element (8) consists of a sleeve element (16) with atleast one elastically deformable articulation ring (19) for tiltingmovements, which surrounds the end of the pivot and which is securedfirmly to the free end of the pivot (11).
 12. The fastener as claimed inclaim 11, characterized in that the articulation ring (19) of the sleeveelement (16) allows the free end of the pivot (11) limited axialmobility because of its sufficient capacity for shear.
 13. A plate,particularly a sheet of glass, with at least one hole and, mountedtherein, a fastener as claimed in any one of the preceding claims. 14.The use of a plate as claimed in claim 13 for glazing a building,particularly for glazing a facade.